# effective

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪˈfɛktɪv/ · frequency rank #1,363

## Definitions
1. Having the power to produce a required effect or effects.
2. Producing a decided or decisive effect.
3. Efficient, serviceable, or operative, available for useful work.
4. Actually in effect.
5. Having no negative coefficients.
6. Such that no group element acts trivially.
7. approximate; Not describing the fundamental dynamic changes in some system as they happen.

## Etymology
From French effectif, from Latin effectīvus (“productive; effective”), from efficiō (“I make; I bring about”), equivalent to effect + -ive.

## Easily confused with
- **elective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/effective-vs-elective)
- **effectively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/effective-vs-effectively)
- **effecting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/effecting-vs-effective)

## Common misspellings (11)
`efective`, `efefctive`, `effcetive`, `effecctive`, `effecitve`, `effectiev`, `effectivve`, `effecttive`, `effectvie`, `effetcive`, `fefective`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/effective